CA1101818A

CA1101818A - Engine mounting base

Info

Publication number: CA1101818A
Application number: CA324,443A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Raymond Van Ashmun; Steven R. Baker; Jerry A. Damerell
Original assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 1978-06-08
Filing date: 1979-03-29
Publication date: 1981-05-26
Also published as: US4191356A; JPS54162013A; EP0006116A1; EP0006116B1; JPS6367077B2

Abstract

ENGINE MOUNTING BASE

Abstract of the Disclosure An engine mounting base has a first hollow frame portion containing fluid at generally atmospheric pressure, and a second hollow frame portion containing fluid at a preselected pressure above atmospheric pres-sure. Preferably, the mounting base includes a plurality of elongate tubes having closed ends and connected together at various elevations to provide a plurality of chambers useful for fluid distribution and collection purposes.

Description

ENGINE MOUNTING BASE
-Technical Field The present invention is related to an engine mounting base and a portion of a fluid distribution system for the engine utilizing the mounting base.
Backyround Art Integrated enclosures and rigid mounting arrangements for engines are known which allow convenient transport thereo-f as a self-contained power plant package.
The rigid base therefore eliminates the~need for attach ment of the engine to an auxiliary mounting base prepared for it at the installatlon site and generally greatly simplifies the installation procedure. For example, reference is made to U.S. Patent No. 3,418~485 issued December 24, 1968 to H. R. Anderson et al, assigned to the assignee of the instant applicationl showing an enclosure for a gas turbine engine and associated electric generator set. That reference discloses a rigid base that not only supports the engine, but also defines a ; 20 sump or reservoir for the lubricating oil of the engine.
Self-contained power plant packages of the aforementioned type are therefore very desirable for roof-top installation, emergency use in the field, and the like.
Heretofore, relatively complex and fabricated sheet metal reservoirs have been utilized on these self-contained power plants. Moreover, separate fluid control systems have been incorporated on the engine to permit a sufficient quantity of :Lubricating fluid to be delivered to the engine bearings and to other components at the 30 desired pressure. While such systems have performed ;~
adequatelyt they have been relatively costly in construc-tion and have not been as effective as desired.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
~isclosure of Invention ~' ~;J~' . ' :
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' i ' ' ' ' . :' In accordance with the present invention, an engine mounting base comprises first hollow frame means for containing a preselected quantity of a fluid at generally atmospheric pressure; second hollow frame means for containing another preselected quantity of said fluid at a preselected pressure level above atmospheric pres-sure, said first and second hollow frame means being con-nected; and pump means for communicating said fluid from said first hollow frame means to said second hollow frame means.
In another aspect of the invention, the hollow frame portions of the instant engine mounting base are made from structural strength tubing having closed ends.
The tubes are preferably connected together, intercon-nected in a preselected manner to provide common chambers, and arranged at different elevations so as to provide an effective portion of a fluid distribution system as well as a simple and yet rigid engine mounting base.
Brief Description of Drawings Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of an engine mounting base constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, with portions bro]cen open to better illustrate details thereof, and showing a ragmentary portion of an associated engine elevated above its mounted position on the mounting basefor clarity.
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic, plan view of the engine mounting base illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the various fluid chambers and fluid flow paths providing a portion of an engine fluid distribution system.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention Referring to Fig. 1, one embodiment of an engine mounting base or engine support apparatus ~ is ~` shown for supporting a plurality of support feet 10 of a .

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- 2a -dual shaft gas turbine engine 12. Hence, the gas turbine engine has a gasifier turbine portion 14 and a power turbine portion 16 which operate at different rotational speeds, and these separate portions respectively drive first and second engine driven pumps 18 and 20 as is known in the art. Moreover, while the first pump has fluid inlet and outlet passages 22, 24 and the second pump has corresponding fluid inlet and outlet passages 26, 28, first and second one-way check valves 30, 32 are provided individually on the respective outlet passages 24, 28 for purposes which will be later explained.

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Basically, however, the engine mounting base 8 includes a Eirst hollow frame means or reservoir portion 34, a second hollow frame means or high pressure portion 36, a third hollow frame means or ~luid collecting por-tion 38, and a fourth hollow frame means or intermediatepressure portion 40. A pair of substantially parallel, kube-closing end plates 42 provide additional strength for the mounting base, and a lifting eye 44 is defined at each end of the plates for lifting or skidding the mounting base 8 and engine 12 as a self-contained unit during initial installation thereof.
More particularly, the reservoir portion 34 of the instant example includes a substantially parallel pair of longitudinally oriented elongate tubes 46,48, and a pair of substantially parallel elongate cross tubes 50, 52 extending transversely between the tubes 46,48. These tubes and the closing end plates 42 define a common reser-yoir chamber 54 containing a preselected ~uantity of fluid such as lubricatiny oil at generally atmospheric pressure.
The high pressure portion 36 includes a longi-tudinally oriented elongate tube 56 having opposite ends closed off by the end plates 42 and defining a high pres--~ sure chamber 58 therein. The tubes 46,56 are preferably substantially rectangular in cross section as shown by the broken open portion in Fig. 1. This permits the tubes to ~ be eleyationally stacked on top of one another for ; increased beam depth and strength. specifically/ for example, the tube 56 is disposed on top of the tube 46.
In a similar manner, the fluid collecting por-tion 38 includes a substantially parallel pair of elongate cross tubes 60~62 and a longitudinally oriented tube 64 connected therebetween and defining a generally ~-shaped collectin~ chamber 66. The ends of the cross tubes 60,62 are closed or blocked, except for an opening 68. More-over, a plurality of flow-restricting openings 70 of preselected cross sectional area are defined between the collesting chamber 66 and the reservoir chamber 54, both at the juxtaposed surfaces of the elevationally aligned .~
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cross -tubes 50,60 as representatively illus-trated, and also at the cross tubes 52,62. A breather pipe 7~ ex ~.
tends upwa.rdly from the top of the tube 64 and to the side of the mounting base 8 where it is subse~uently connected to an upright vent pipe, not shown, at the - installation site. A main fluid réturn or drain openin~
74 is also provided through the top of the cross tube 62, and this drain openin~ communicates with the bottom of the gas turbine engine 12.
In the embodiment illustrated, the intermedlate pressure portion 40 includes a longitudinally o~iented elon~ate tube 76 located immediately above the tube 48, and connectéd thereto and to the cross tubes 60,62.
Since the ends of the tube 76 are blocked by the end ~ .
plates 42, ~ chamber 77 is de~ined therein that could serve as an intermediate pressure maniold. ~oWeYer, be~ ~ ~
cause the chamber 77 is dif~icult to clean durin~ initial : :
assembly of the mounting base 8, an intermedi~te pressure ..
distribution maniold 78 is.connected inside the tube 76 .
for this purpose. ~ plura].ity o conduits 80 are connec-ted to the maniold 78 and extend outwardly of the tube 76 to distribute fluid as needed to the gas turbine ~ engine 12.
:' It is of note to obse~ve fxom ~ig. 1 that the 25 inlet passage 22 of the first pump 18 is connected to the :~
tube 46 as at an opening 82, and that the inlet passage 26 of the second pump 20 is connected to the tube 48 as :
at an opening 84 at the opposite sides of the reservoir portion 34. This assures more uniform withdrawal o 1uid from the opposite extremities of the reserYoir portion and improves reliability should the mounting base 8 be tipped in use.
A fluid filter assembly 86 is connected to the inside faces o~ the tubes 4~,56 and is in f].uid communic-ation with the high pressure chamber 58 as by one or morepassages 88. An outlet conduit or passa~e 90 from the ilter assembl~ is in fluid communication wikh a branch conduit ~2 leading to -the engine 12. A convelntional :

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i~O~8~L8 relie:E valve g4, set for example at about 300 psi (2,070 KPa), is in series rela-tion with the conduit 90 so thak relatively high pressure fluid at such pressure is present in the chamber 58 and in the branch conduit 92. Fluid relieved past the relief valve communicates through a conduit 96 to the distribution manifold 78 located within the tube 76. Another conventional relief valve 98 extends through the opening 68 and is in communication with fluid within the manifold 78. This second relief valve 98, set for example at about 75 psi (520 KPa), establishes the pressure in the manifold and the plurality of conduits 80 leading therefrom and to the engine 12.
Fluid relieved past the second relief valve is communica-ted to the cross tube 60 and to the fluid collecting portion 38.
Indus'tr'ia'l'Appl'ic'ability . ~
In operation, as the gas turbine engine 12 is started, the first and second pumps are driven at difer- ' '"
ent rates o speed correspondincJ to the rotational speeds o the yasifier turbine portion 14 and power turbine portion 16, respectively. Consequently, the check valves 30,32 are provided in the outlet or discharge passages

2~,28 thereof to prevent either pump having to start up under a higher fluid back pressure established by the ~' 25 othe~ pump.
Under normal operating circumstances, the reservoir chamber 54 of the mounting bàse 8 is substanti-ally completely filled with lubricating fluid at generally atmospheric pressure, and the pumps 13,20 have approxi-mately the same fluid pumping capacities to enable fluid to be drawn from the opposite sides o the reservoirportion 34 at about the same rate as is illustrated in ~: both Figs. 1 and 2. Thence, the fluid is delivered to the high pressure chamber 58 so that it is also substanti-ally completely filled. The fluid is subsequently filtered by the filter assembly 86 and delivered to the branch conduit 92 to the gas turbine engine 12. Accor-dingly, high pressure fluid is available the~eat for a . multiplicity of operating purposes. Fluid not needed by ;
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the engine via the conduit 92 is directed through the relief valve 94 to the conduit 96 and to the distribution manifold 78 as shown by the flow ind:icating arrows on the drawings~ Thexefore, fluid under an intermediate pressure is available -thereat for various operating needs, and a plurality of conduits 80 serve to communicate such fluid to parts of the gas turbine engine 12 as necessary.
Fluid not needed by the distribution manifold 78 is directed throu~h the second relief valve 98 into the collecting portion 38 at a preselected flow rate.
Specifically, such rate is about the same flow rate as - that returning from the gas turbine engine 12 via the main drain opening 74. Significantly then, equivalent amounts of fluid are returned to the colle.cting portion ;
at the opposite cross tubes 60,62, with the plurality of sized openin~s 70 serving to uniformly distribute the gravity flow of fluid from the upper collecting portion to the lower reservoir portion 34~ These flow distributing features of the mounting base 8 are particularly useful, for example, ~hen the self-contained package is tipped in use such as is typically the case in a marine gear ap~lication. This is also why the breather pipe 72 is connected to the reservoir portion substantially centrally - of the mountin~ base.
Thus it is appaxent that the subject mounting -base 8 is economical and strong in its construction, such as by consistin~ primarily of a plurality of close-ended tubes welded or otherwise connected together, for example~
- structural strength tubes of steel. Advantageously, the tubes axe interconnected at various elevations to provide several fluid chambers containing preselected quantities of fluid and individually established at atmospheric pxessure and at different pressure levels above atmos-pheric pressure, so that a portion of an engine fluid distribution s~stem is provided by the mounting base in addition to supporting the engine. The pumps 18,20 draw fluid from the lower level reservoir portion 34 and deliver the fluid to the upper level high pr~ssure and . `

:~ , intermediate pressure portions 36,40, with the return o fluid from the engine 12 being acco~nodated by gravity flow through the upper collecting portion 38 back to -the reservoir portion.
Other aspects, objects, ancl advantages of this invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An engine mounting base comprising:
first hollow frame means for containing a pre-selected quantity of a fluid at generally atmospheric pressure;
second hollow frame means for containing another preselected quantity of said fluid at a preselected pressure level above atmospheric pressure, said first and second hollow frame means being connected; and pump means for communicating said fluid from said first hollow frame means to said second hollow frame means.

2. The engine mounting base of claim 1 wherein said second hollow frame means is at an elevation greater than said first hollow frame means.

3. The engine mounting base of claim 1 or claim 2, including third hollow frame means for receiving said fluid from said second hollow frame means and return-ing said fluid to said first hollow frame means.

4. The engine mounting base of claim 1 includ-ing means for containing another preselected quantity of said fluid at an intermediate pressure between atmospheric pressure and said preselected pressure in said second hollow frame means.

5. The engine mounting base of claim 4 including first and second pressure relief valve means for establish-ing said preselected pressure and said intermediate pressure.

6. The engine mounting base of claim 4 or claim 5, including third hollow frame means for receiving fluid from said second valve means.

7. The engine mounting base of claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein said first and second hollow frame means are primarily constructed of elongate structural strength tubing.

8. The engine mounting base of claim 1 wherein said first hollow frame means includes first and second substantially parallel elongate tubes having closed ends and a third tube connected to said pair of tubes and providing a common fluid chamber therewith.

9. The engine mounting base of claim 8 wherein said second hollow frame means includes a fourth elongate tube having closed ends connected to and elevationally above one of said first and second tubes.

10. The engine mounting base of claim 9 including a fifth elongate tube having closed ends connected ele-vationally above and to the other one of said first and second tubes, and including a fluid distribution manifold connected within said fifth tube.

11. The engine mounting base of claim 10 including a sixth tube connected elevationally above and to said third tube, and a plurality of openings between said third and sixth tubes allowing controlled flow of said fluid therebetween.

12. The engine mounting base of claim 1 wherein said first hollow frame means includes a plurality of interconnected elongate tubes defining a first chamber, and said second hollow frame means includes an elongate tube defining a second chamber.

13. The engine mounting base of claim 12 in-cluding means for communicating fluid from said second chamber to an engine and returning the fluid to said first chamber.

14. The engine mounting base of claim 12 wherein said elongate tube of said second hollow frame means is connected to and located elevationally above said elongate tubes of said first hollow frame means.

15. The engine mounting base of claim 12, 13 or 14, including another elongate tube having closed ends and defining a third chamber therein.

16. The engine mounting base of claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein said tubes of said first and second hollow frame means are constructed of structural strength tubing having a generally rectangular cross section.

17. The engine mounting base of claim 12 includ-ing an intermediate pressure distribution manifold, conduit connecting said second chamber and said manifold, and a relief valve connected in series with said conduit.

18. The engine mounting base of claim 17 including a collecting tube and a second relief valve con-nected between said manifold and said collecting tube and having a pressure relief setting less than said relief valve.